Guest post by the Rev. Rafael Malpica-Padilla, executive director of Global Mission for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
At the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), we are grateful for our long, historical relationship with Lutheran World Relief and for our mutual commitment to companionship in mission. The strength of this relationship, and the effectiveness of LWR’s initial relief work in the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, have led the ELCA to provide LWR with a second grant of $1 million to support the next phase of work: rehabilitation and assistance to re-establish the livelihoods of those who lost so much.
The ELCA’s first gift of $1 million last November enabled LWR to immediately go to affected areas to participate with a network of disaster-response agencies, including the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and other ecumenical partners engaged in relief and development work.
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Lutheran Disaster Response and ELCA Global Mission-Diakonia have a long history of uniting the gifts and resources of the ELCA’s faithful members, congregations and synods with the on-the-ground experience in disaster relief and development work of partners like LWR. Through this partnership, the church is present in the community, there for its neighbors when disaster strikes, and still there to help people rebuild their lives long after others have gone.
Touching people’s lives for the flourishing of human community is the moral imperative that shapes the ELCA’s global relief and development work. We are deeply committed to creating significant impact in the lives of people and communities. Through LWR, the ELCA is extending its reach to provide sufficient and sustainable livelihoods for all.
Thank you, ELCA members, congregations and synods for your generosity. Thank you, LWR, for being there to extend our hands to the people of the Philippines.
The Rev. Rafael Malpica-Padilla, D.D.
Executive Director, Global Mission
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America